2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[cd8jbr]

My ex-batt, Nugget, has been to the vet on a few occasions recently but pulled through and seemed perky and happy but once again she's looking miserable and unwell.

 

I've been confining them to their run because of the bitter winds, thankfully we have no snow, but let them out today to see if that perked her up. It did for a couple of minutes but no longer - she went back to standing huddled up, tail down, eyes closed by the patio door (a favourite place for all of them). When I opened the back door she came running with the other 3 but is just not interested in food. Even when let loose in the kitchen she just stands there where she would have loved to scratch the carpet and bug hunt (sounds awful but they think its great). They were wormed a few weeks ago (about 4).

 

The only thing I can see is that her comb is much paler than the others, none of them are laying in this winter weather, her crop seems normal to me - but I'm no expert. I am going to take her to the vet later but wondered if anyone had any ideas... The vet was brilliant for her last time but after losing Henrietta so suddenly on Sunday I am afraid I will lose her too. One of the hens is sneezing a bit but not Nugget. I can't help but think a bit of sun would help but that seems as far away as ever.

 

Any ideas, suggestions most welcome. Thanks

[good_egg]

Oh poor you. Hope the vet can help and she gets better soon. It's such horrible weather you can't help wishing for some sunshine for the poor things.

[cd8jbr]

I took her to the vet first thing and she's going to spend the day there. We've been here before and she seems to enjoy it. From being one very miserable chicken once in the carrier and on the way she perked up no end, started flinging her pellets everywhere and chuckling to herself.

 

Last time she looked as bad she perked up they actually did nothing to her - just sent her home later with a clean bill of health! Maybe it's the cold and she's figured how to get days in the warmth...I don't know but she sure perked up once in the carrier - and yet just left to her own devices in the kitchen she just stood there looking hunched and miserable. There is just nothing sensible going on here that I can work out - although when I pick her up at 4pm I might learn something!

[Egghead68]

Is she being bullied?

[cd8jbr]

I honestly don't think she's being bullied. I've never seen any bad behaviour. She's just spent the day at the vets and they can't find anything wrong! She was as miserable as sin, not eating and hunched up - even, as I said in the kitchen! Put her in the carrier and set off and she starts flinging her food around and clucking happily. She was fine at the vets - I really think she wants to be inside where it's warm.

 

She's not daft is she?! I'm off for the next couple of weeks so I will be able to watch her more, and give her extra shelter if needed. I'm even going yo buy a large cage she, or the others, can have inside if needed. I've also just ordered 2 snuggle safes from amazon (£11.99 delivered) to see if that helps too.

 

Any ideas what more I can do?

[cd8jbr]

I am increasingly worried about Nugget. She still has no symptoms other than sitting hunched up looking miserable - which she does pretty much all the time. The vet has been unable to find anything wrong and the only outward sign other than hunching is she has a paler face and comb than the others. She is skinnier than the others but she had a crop problem a couple of weeks ago and did lose weight then. She's not eating much - she's just not interested but does like a little layers porridg- with a sprinkle of cat food occasionally.

 

I am at a complete loss as to what to do for her. I have brought her in but that doesn't help she just looks miserable and doesn't even settle and lie down - she stands all the time.

[Egghead68]

What about sending off a poo sample to Retford's Poultry Partnership for analysis with a description of the problem? They should be able to tell specifically what bugs or parasites she has and suggest treatments. (I feel like I'm always recommending them. I promise I don't work for them!)

In the meantime presumably she has been wormed recently? You could also try nutridrops to perk her up.

Fingers crossed for her.

[Egluntyne]

How long have you had her? As she is an ex batt, she may just be winding down and age is catching up with her.

[cd8jbr]

Thanks to both for the help. They were freed since October 2011 so that's 17 months. They will be around 3 years old. I know they are worn out from their battery years but 3 of them are really perky even though Funky is confined to a carrier to get her anti-biotics for her lung infection (she's on Baytril) but is lively and has stopped sneezing. I think Funky is fine but am keeping her in as advised. Nugget has no signs of infection at all. When she's at the vets she's been lively and interested with no signs of any problems at all (shes been in for entire days for observation!) but at home she's like a wet weekend whether she's in the house, the run or in the garden. She just stands with closed eyes looking cold and unhappy. They have all been wormed. I'm wondering whether to leave Funky outside and keep Nugget in - I have only one carrier large enough for any length of time and Funky is in it! I can put her in the small one - as she just stands there hunched up anyway...

 

Do you think sending a sample of Nugget's poo would give an answer? I have no experience of doing this but am happy to consider it. I've looked t the site - any suggestions what I should ask them to test for? Or do I just leave it to them?

[Egghead68]

Do you think Nugget has caught Funky's infection and is just showing it differently?

 

I don't know whether the poo analysis would help but that's what I do for mystery illnesses. You just send them a letter explaining the problem and they test for what seems sensible. It costs around £30 and takes a few days.

[cd8jbr]

Hi Egghead, thanks for that

 

I doubt it's cross infection because Nugget was poorly a while before Funky and she had quite a few Baytril jabs so I really don't think it's likely...but...certainly there have been no signs of lung problems and the vets haven't found any signs of anything.

 

The sun came out so I let them out and she did look a bit interested for a while and even chased a crow - she's pecking about a bit and while she doesn't look as perky as the rest she is looking a little better! But she's still not doing much and is hunched up even when pecking around and she is pale.

[mimi5]

Ah poor you and Nugget!! It's difficult to know what to do isn't it?? But maybe try and keep her in at night to help her not use up her energy keeping warm!!! A cardboard box will do with air vent cut in to the sides will do. Also have you got any nutridrops by nettex? They are great for perking up a poorly chicken and also stimulate appetite. If you make her up a pellet porridge with warm water I believe you can use lifeguard in the water to help get some vits in to her.

 

You are doing your best and this long.....never ending winter doesn't help does it!!!!! Best wishes for Nugget (and Funky too!! )

[cd8jbr]

Hi, thanks for that - I have indeed given her nutri drops (she wasn't impressed)! Funnily enough today her face is getting some colour back and she has been a bit more animated so...maybe whatever is ailing her is getting a bit better...we can hope.

 

Funky is still very lively but isn't taking in her anti biotics as she just will not drink the medicated water! I'm going o take her for a jab tomorrow as she cant avoid that!

[cd8jbr]

I'm pleased to say Funky is getting much better and is no longer sneezing - it's hard to know if her lung is completely better as she just would not stop squawking at the vets - so more Baytril and she should be fine. Nugget is another story though. She has been put on metronidazole (flagyll) as she just isn't getting better - a poop sample is being sent off to see if that helps (she has diarrhoea), but she is lethargic, disinterested in everything and miserable. She has lost weight (100g) and she only weighed 1.6kg before!

 

The vets think she has some thickening around her stomach and her liver may be enlarged but they have little to compare it with. We will be back at the vet tomorrow for more metronidazole but I can't help feeling she is not long for this world and I don't want to prolong her suffering if she isn't going to get better. Does anybody have any experience of something similar? Or any ideas about a prognosis...or is it likely to be as bad as I fear it might...?

[Egghead68]

That's good news about Funky but I'm sorry about Nugget. Fingers crossed for her.

[cd8jbr]

I will talk to the vet but I don't think Nugget will be coming home from the vets tomorrow. She isn't eating, is miserable and just stands In the carrier morning noon and night, eyes closed and not moving. Lift her out of the carrier and put her down - she doesn't move. I put her on the scales - she just stood there. She weighs only 1.5kg - there is nothing left of her - skinny just doesn't describe it. She seems weak too but as she's not eating that's no surprise. She's lost 100g in 2days. I've sent a poop sample to the lab but I don't know if she will survive long enough or whether it would be fair to keep her alive as she is now.

 

I don't want to be premature in making the decision but I do worry she is suffering and I'd hate to think I have made her suffer for nothing.

 

It's a choice between a rock and a hard place and I really do not know what to do for the best but my gut says this is a battle we're not going to win. Poor little Nugget.

[Luvachicken]

It's hard isn't it when they become poorly.

I'm sorry Nugget isn't feeling so well and hope that some warm sun and her medicine will make her feel better.

Get well soon Nugget xx

[Egghead68]

It is a horrible decision to have to make. I expect the vet will guide you.

Whatever happens she is a good age for an ex-batt and has enjoyed a long retirement with you.

[cd8jbr]

I am getting more sure that to keep her going would be unfair. I checked her at 4.30am and still she was just standing there, eyes shut, head pulled in, tail down - she doesn't even lie down anymore. Her chest feathers are a bit wet and there seems to be moisture coming from her nose but I'm not sure what this means. If she has eaten anything it is very little, she has no 'fight' left it seems.

 

Could being kept inside be having a negative effect? The vet said it was best and I have kept her fairly cool (16 degrees) most of the time.

 

I knew my ex-batts might not live so long after their sad start and despite the heartbreak they are so worth it. If Nugget joins Henrietta free-ranging in the sky today I can only hope they enjoyed their time in the sun.

[cd8jbr]

Nugget was put to sleep this morning. She had lost even more weight and the vet thinks it was a tumour so putting her through more would have been futile and unfair.

 

RIP little one - I'll miss you.

[Olly]

Sorry to hear that, but you have done the best you could for her.

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear that, but you did the best you could for her.

 

Chrissie

[Egghead68]

Sorry to hear that. RIP.

[newcountrygirl]

Sorry to hear about Nugget. At least you know you did everything you could for her.

[Luvachicken]

Sorry to hear about little Nugget xx